Hawaii Security Deposit Law: Deadlines, Penalties & How to Get Your Deposit Back
Hawaii gives a landlord 14 days to return your security deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions, under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44. If that window has passed and you haven’t been paid, you have leverage — here’s exactly what the statute says and how to act on it.
Hawaii security-deposit law at a glance
- Deadline to return / itemize
- 14 days
- after the tenancy ends
- Bad-faith penalty exposure
- Up to 3×
- a court may award if it finds bad faith
- Itemization required?
- Yes
- the landlord must justify any deduction
- Attorney’s fees recoverable?
- Yes
- under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44
How long does a Hawaii landlord have?
Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44, a Hawaii landlord has 14 days after your tenancy ends to return your deposit or provide an itemized statement of any deductions. Hawaii requires that itemized statement when the landlord keeps any part of the deposit. Count from the day the tenancy ended. If the deadline has passed and you haven’t been paid or itemized, your landlord is late — and that’s the leverage your demand letter is built on.
What penalty can a Hawaii landlord face?
A landlord who keeps a deposit in bad faith may owe up to 3× the deposit. Specifically, under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44, Hawaii law lets a tenant seek up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld if a court finds the landlord acted in bad faith, plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Important: any penalty is something a court may award if it finds the landlord acted in bad faith — it is never automatic, and you would still need to make that case. Hawaii also lets a prevailing tenant recover attorney's fees.
How to get your deposit back in Hawaii
- 1. Send a written demand. Put the deadline your landlord missed and the statute (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44) in writing, by certified mail with return receipt, so you have proof of the date they received it.
- 2. Keep your records. Move-out photos, the walkthrough checklist, your lease, and proof you gave a forwarding address are your evidence if the landlord disputes the claim.
- 3. If they don’t pay, file in small claims. You can ask a Hawaii small claims court to order the deposit returned, and — under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 — to seek up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld if a court finds the landlord acted in bad faith, plus attorney's fees and court costs plus attorney's fees, which the court may award if you prove your case. The small-claims dollar limit varies by court within the state, so check your county’s limit before filing.
Generate your Hawaii demand letter
Run the free leverage check — enter your deposit and how long it’s been, and we’ll show you exactly how many days past Hawaii’s 14-day deadline your landlord is and the penalty exposure under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44. Then, for a flat $39, get a firm, statute-cited demand letter you send yourself plus a Hawaii small-claims escalation roadmap. You keep 100% of whatever you recover.
Hawaii security deposit FAQ
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Hawaii?
- Hawaii law gives a landlord 14 days to return the deposit or send an itemized statement of any deductions, under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44. Count from the day your tenancy ended; if that window has passed and you haven't been paid or itemized, your landlord is late.
- What penalty can a Hawaii landlord face for wrongfully keeping a deposit?
- Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44, up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld if a court finds the landlord acted in bad faith, plus attorney's fees and court costs. That is something a court may award if it finds bad faith — it is not automatic, and you would still need to make that case. Hawaii also lets a prevailing tenant recover attorney's fees.
- Does my Hawaii landlord have to itemize deductions?
- Yes. Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44, a Hawaii landlord must provide an itemized statement of any deductions within the return window. If the statement is missing or the deadline is missed, you can demand the full deposit back.
- Can I take my Hawaii landlord to small claims court over my deposit?
- Yes. If your landlord won't return the deposit after a written demand, you can file in Hawaii small claims court (small-claims dollar limits vary by court within the state). There you can ask the court to order the deposit returned, and — under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 — to seek up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld if a court finds the landlord acted in bad faith, plus attorney's fees and court costs plus attorney's fees, which the court may award if you prove your case. Small claims is designed to be navigated without a lawyer.
Sources
The Hawaii facts on this page are drawn from Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 and the references below. Always confirm the current text of the statute for your situation.